Another part of my week was going to the support group for women who are HIV positive. We went on both Tuesday and Friday mornings.
On Tuesday, we got to hear a couple of women’s stories. I cannot imagine some of the things they go through because they are HIV positive and the way people in the community treat them. I cannot explain how much I admire the strength of these women. Also on this day, while she was teaching me to crochet, Nelly (one of the women) told me about a friend she was worried about and also about some struggles with her family is facing. I was thankful that she opened up to me and that I had the opportunity to pray with her.
I was reminded how laughter is universal when we went to the support group on Friday without a translator. We didn’t really need to talk with the women, we gave them hugs when we got there and said our hellos and then they taught us to crochet while speaking very little English. Just being there and sitting with the women was enough. I am the worst crochet-er ever. It took me forever to get the hang of it. The most patient woman sat with me and showed me over and over again how to crochet. Surprisingly, the green beanie I started on doesn’t look too bad. There is a chance it might turn out looking good enough for me to actually wear. Laughter brought us all together because everyone in the room, South Africans and Americans laughed when we would mess up and the women could take what we were working on and pull half of what we had crocheted out because we had been doing it wrong. I feel like we really bonded with the women and this day helped us to really feel a part of this group.
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